Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Sorry, you're weakening your argument big-time. nm

Posted By: You can't fault the MTSO sm on 2006-05-26
In Reply to: I understand what you're saying, - Ex MW

for your lack of discipline in saving. But for legal purposes, they should be taking the taxes out.


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

That's a whole different argument...nm
x
Not to start a whole new argument, but sm
It seems awful strange that I know of at least 4 people that have left Transcend in the last 2 weeks or so from the same account because of lack of work all the time on either primary accounts or secondary accounts and now they don't have an ad posted, like they usually do to fill them back up fast.   Hmmmm, maybe they finally realized that they overhired!!!
Ad hominem argument -- sm
I'll admit I had to look that one up. I'm not too proud to say I've probably resorted to an ad hominem argument at some point and time, but now at least I'm more aware of it.
agree 300%--no argument here
it's just all about power and money
no argument here, I just wouldn't...
have called it TOTALLY IC.

I am totally IC--no schedule, no line requirement. But, I am not lazy, I need to eat and pay bills, and us ICs don't want our company to lose the accounts. Therefore, I commit myself to 1000-1200/lines per day whether it be split or straight shifts, and I try to commit myself to 4-5 days/wk.
You had an argument about her professionalism?

your bounds by discussing something like that with her?  I mean, after all, it's her company.  Is it really your place to talk to her about her professionalism when you work for her? 


And when you say she fired you - did she say you're fired?  Seems fishy to me that she'd email in an hour about work if she really did fire you.  And she doesn't have to fire you, she can just say she no longer needs your services.


That was the most well-spoken argument for
I agree 100%, as well. I know some people think that unions brought down the Big 3 automakers, but that's not so. Even their most well-paid line workers with the best bennies don't come anywhere close to what the Fat-Cats up in their designer-furniture-appointed, corner top-floor offices were (and still are) getting. For mismanagement. They aren't building the cars America wants, so they're buying Toyotas, Nissans and Hyundais instead.

When I tell people who are not in this business what an MT has to know before anyone will consider hiring her (or him), both medically and computer-literacy-wise, and then what they're expected to work for, their jaws hit the floor.

I was inhouse for many many years, but was eventually forced out, as although no one will admit to it yet, that office is job-by-job sending its work outside, and will most likely have nothing but a skeleton crew of workflow managers left before the end of next year. They couldnt be honest about it, either. They drove the top-rated, older MTs out with abusive treatment that actually made some workers physically ill. Others left an office that they realized to be a dead-end road.

So these days, many of us are working at home because that's all that's left of MT. Which is the best thing that could've happened to the most unscrupulous of the MTSO's, as not only do they not have the overhead of having to house a officeful of MTs, but they now have an 'invisible' workforce that has little to no contact with their coworkers, and often little to no contact with the office (unless of course, heaven forbid, they make an error).

I think lots of MTs know we need a spokesperson in our behalf, as we are basically an isolated bunch, swept under the rug by the healthcare industry and MTSOs alike. What unions have brought to workers like us in the past has been a VOICE. That's something few, if any MTs have these days.

I also think that after talking about this for years, thinking about it, being told it can't happen, but wishing that somehow MTs could be unionized, with our country's new leadership and thorough shaking-out of business-as-usual for the banking, stock, and auto industries, the time has finally come.

If ever an industry needed regulating, it's ours. And we're all but powerless to do anything as individuals; we have to join together for the strength to stand up to the unfair treatment we've endured for so long. We need a VOICE, and that's what unions are - they are the worker's VOICE.

We need more attention focused on the healthcare and insurance industries in this country, and that in turn may start the ball rolling in terms of bringing MT and substandard pay into public and legislative view.

I think people need to know that those of us interested in unionizing aren't talking about being over-paid, or over-compensated in any way, shape or form for what we do. All we want is a fair shake.... a decent day's pay for an honest day's work.

I'm willing to bet many of the nay-sayers on this board are possibly MTSO trolls. Those who are 'grateful' for their lousy 6 cpl jobs, or who say that it's all we deserve, are most likely the same types who think that when a woman is raped, it's her own fault.

And that's exactly what's happend to the MT industry. Gang-rape by AAMT in the beginning, and now by AHDI. By wealthy business-types who buy an MTSO not because they give a darn about healthcare, or their workers, or even know anything about medical transcription, but just because it's a good 'investment' -- to buy low and sell high, and make even more money.

(As for norma rae below, who says 'It's not 1970'; well, actually in a lot of ways it IS 1970. Do you make much more than you did in 1970? (I sure don't). Less, perhaps? Are we in a recession? Yup. Are we fighting a pointless war abroad? Yup. And are women treated as less-than-human in the workplace? Yup.

Yeah, nowadays they can't legally make sexist comments to us, force us to sit in a cigarette-smoke-filled office all day, or ask us to make coffee. But they're still sticking it to us wage-wise. Why? Because they CAN. Because we LET them. Because even in the 21st Century, many woman still believe they're 'lucky to have a job - ANY job' - and will grovel and lick the feet of anyone who tosses them a few cents and a scrap of meat. Or rapes them and tells them they 'want it'.

If ever there was a ripe opportunity to get a medical transcription union going, it's NOW. As this dismal year finally draws to a close, I hope lots of you will reflect on how much you know, and how long and how much work it took you to learn it. Reflect on how many hours you sit in front of that computer. 10 hours? 12? 14? 18 hours a day? All so that you can make that line-quota you're expected to be able to produce in 8 hours? How much overtime SHOULD you have been earning, but didn't get paid? How many of you have a poor healthcare package, or no healthcare at all? How many of you lost any hope whatsoever of being to retire - not just later, like 70, 80, or 90, but EVER? If we're going to have to work the rest of our lives to pay for all our country's 'bailouts', it would be nice if there were half a chance that our jobs will:
a) Still be here 10-20 years from now, and
b) Pay enough to be able to live on.
good argument for doing away with
being paid by the line. There's no way you can get top speed and top quality...one of the two will have to suffer.

Yes, I've seen similar embarrassing work. It's awful, & yes, it was probably done by someone who racks up billions and billions of lines per pay period, which I certainly don't.

I'm not sure I've ever understood why we are paid by the line. I suppose the argument is that this would be abused & exploited by MTs who want something for nothing & that instead of seeing it as an opportunity to do research & whatever else is necessary to produce a quality document, it would be an opportunity to work as fast as possible and use the rest of the time to eat bonbons.

Is this realistic? Are there really MTs who would do this, or is this just the stock justification for cpl?

I can't think of another profession that is paid this way. It turns us into sweatshop garment workers, not educated professionals who are one of the strongest links in the chain of patient care.

Help me out here. What are your thoughts?
I understand both sides of the argument...
But I believe that a lot of the posts are from management.  They really should not disguise themselves as MTs and try to trick people.  Just let the truth be what it is, and if you do not like the truth, then do something at your company to change it.  All the effort that is being put into posting on this forum by management from various companies should be put into different programs, incentives, or maybe just a nice word or two to their transcriptionists to try and make the companies better.  I value this forum and believe that MTs need a place to communicate these things to one another to possibly prevent someone else from going through a bad situation.  I do believe that some MTs do need to let it go sometimes, but when you know that it is management posting to try and prove you are wrong, that just makes you more determined to prove you are right.  Just my opinion so don't jump all over me. 
I have to provide good argument here, though.
That is no different than the MTs (new or even experienced) who have poor medical terminology, poor grasp of the English language, etc.

For the newbies who don't know the difference -- maybe in a test they do but when transcribing they don't get it -- between a hemorrhage and a hemorrhoid in the brain. For the experienced MTs who have never understood that pleural is lung, plural means more than one.

I've seen great work by US MTs and by offshore MTs, alike. I have also seen the most horrifyingly low-quality work from US MTs and offshore MTs alike.


Your argument loses all steam when you get to
For Pete's sake! Simple - no problems, just don't sign it! You state they're likely to sign since they've been thru the trouble of testing? Sheesh! We all know that taking the test is the magic door to finding out what the job is all about.  Otherwise, all details are a big secret.  Only way in is if you know somebody first.  So, you take the test, find out the pay blows and you say NO THANKS and move on.  Glory, glory, glory - hallelujah!  Amen!
Some of these posts are revolting. No argument here.
*
you're not alone - been doing this a long time
but every slow down, expected or not, causes anxiety - I think we all feel more anxious now than we used to because we know the work is being done electronically and offshore.  I got a second job just to try to save money for the lean times and emergencies.  Only one provider in this household - nervewracking!  I think you hear a little anxiety in the other posters' replies too - they are trying to reassure themselves in the process.  This holiday seems to be worse than I remember it, this is more like Christmas and Thanksgiving!  People must be really taking off!  Imagine that. 
Long-Time MT, you're so very right ...
I'm one of the MT's still on straight transcribing and after having my primary transferred to PI and having the majority of decent work either going to ASR or being outshored I'm struggling every day just to try to make a below minimum line count.  My paychecks have been nothing short of pitiful.  It's so frustrating. 
Don't waste your time - they're a mess
.
3rd time's a charm or 3 strikes you're out
Another childish travel tale, thanks for telling about it! LOL
Don't bother - they're not worth the time

You're not. VR = same amount of time for less money.
x
Gees just mentioning arguring started an argument
Just not worth it. It's all about respect....and maturity.
No argument about AHDI sucking an egg, but I suppose it is just personal sm

preference.  When I started transcribing 35 years ago or so, I had never heard of AAMT or anything like it, but the people in the Medical Records Department (which of course his now referred to as HIM -- why keep things the same if you can change them constantly for no rason) who transcribed the reports were called transcriptionists.  The machine I used to access the dictation was called a transcriber. 


Of course, it is no big deal and I shouldn't get so hung up with labels.  I worked briefly for an Indian company (felt like I was sleeping with the enemy but that's another story), and they called us transcribers … ugh.


Sounds like you're gettin' ripped BIG TIME!
x
Comment from December says they're understaffed and overwhelmed, no time for their MTs.nm
.
Seems you're spending more UNPAID time/work e-mailing..sm

and xeroxing as if you were sitting there with no work.


You aren't wasting your time, you're investing in a potential "yes!"
As to why you don't get a response, it might be for one or some of the reasons below, or none of them:

a. You don't meet clearly-stated qualifications. I delete every resume or application that doesn't meet standards required. If you can't follow instructions, don't expect me to take time out of my busy day to spend time on explaining this to you.

b. You're an Indian pretending to be an American. Again, I'm not wasting Keystrokes on you.

c. Your application is filled with errors. Maybe the dead silence from recruiters is a message to go back and review what you've put out there.

d. Maybe your application got overlooked. It has happened. Email the recruiter. If you don't get a response, review a, b, and c above and e below.

e. Maybe the recruiter is swamped. There are days when 10 hours will fly by and I've hardly had time to breath. There are applications to look at, resumes to review, tests to score, interviews to schedule, paperwork to complete, interviews to do, reports to file, fires to put out, and someone has to beat the tech people/MT supe upside the head to get them to call an irate MT, who feels that YOU are responsible for her every woe and calls 6 times a day to tell you about it.

From a recruiter POV, don't put your experience on page 4 under everything else you've done. I don't care that you work in the church nursery, or that you drive bus, or that you swept floors at Mitzi's Kut n Kurl. Don't make me wade through all that to find out if you can do the job I'm trying to hire for. I suspect I've tossed good resumes because I don't have time to read someone's life story before getting to the information I need. I also don't want to know your parent's names and professions (why do Indians do this?).

So, if you don't get a response you can either call or email, or just move on. It's not necessarily a rejection of you, but rather the reality of a busy society.
Nope, more like a matter of time before we're all working for chump change.
x
Charts in Time, Florida, us ExText and dialup. Said they're going to the net in the fall. Had 1 o
s
Better be glad you got the easier dictators soon, because you're time is coming for the ^^^REAL^^

dictators!  Be glad you got off now.  I wondered where my better dictators went the last week or so !!!!!  Lucky you !!!!!


I can always tell when the TT favorite MT's are off, because I get their dictators -- making it easier for me to get my line count. Yea !


TT is constantly hiring, so the above scenario is a norm. 


"Taking up valuable time of MTSO." You're digging deep now!
x
Amphion hires part-time - they're very strict schedule-wise though
Since part time is so hard to find these days your options are limited, so if you don't mind working for a company that is a stickler for strict schedule adherence, I say try Amphion.
Hope you're enjoying those slave wages you're earning.
.
So you guys feel you're getting paid what you're worth with VR?
I'm not trying to be snarky. I've never done VR, so I'm trying to understand.

You're happy with your paycheck with VR? Do you find the files to be as bad as the original post implied?
So you're telling me, basically, they're bad news?
They offered me 0.095/line and you know - it sounded too good to be true, but I SWEAR the recruiter told me they do not outsource. Oh brother... I just wish they'd be honest. I really don't know what to do.
Not the OP, but they're supposed to take out all the other taxes as you're an employee with th
s
No, they're not losing money....they're gaining!
If a company charges their clients by the line, I'm sure that line rate does not go down even though the MTs pay does.

ASR pays about 2/3 normal line rate to its MTs. Their ultimate goal is to have the MTs do twice as much work. Therefore, the client is getting their work faster, but paying their normal rate, while corporate gets that money and the MTs get the lower line rate.

Whether the newbies want to realize it or not, MTSOs have not increased MTs' salaries in the past 10 years. They still start out at the same pay as the last century!

This used to be a very lucrative profession. Nowadays, most MTs are considered to be paid at the poverty level. You don't believe me, look it up!
Hey, you're in luck then. They're hiring! (nm)
x
If they're in Nebraska, they're www.medigrafix.com nm
m
If you're an IC, you pay all your taxes. Otherwise you're an SE or employee. nm
s
If you're PT you're required to work

8 of your hours in one weekend day.  There's no extra pay for it though. 


The face we're wising up is exactly why they're
xxx
We're not 'so scared' of it. We're trying to help
you to not make a huge mistake, but I guess you're determined to learn the hard way, so good luck with that.
If you're in the 37% tax bracket, you're making over
100K per year. Quit complaining.
I'm lookin for part-time work (about 3-4 hrs daily) after 13 years of full-time, anyone know of a
company that is hiring flexible part-time?  I'm starting a career in real estate but don't want to totally quit transcription, but I think most places require 25 hours a week and I cant work weekends, as real estate sales are the biggest on the weekend with open houses and people off work to shows homes to.  If you know of a place I'd sure appreciate the info.  Thanks!
MDI-Maryland is an excellent company, pay on time all the time, great line rate.
I left also because I went out and got my own client(s).
They are very nice people.

The only negative I can think of were the e-mails from the owner say work, work, work, we are out of TAT.

Other than that, which is very minor, it was a good experience.
Not what I was told; 3500/wk part-time & 6000 wk/full-time. nm
nm
Precyse Solutions is hiring part-time and full-time right now.
Saw this on their website.
i work 3 part-time jobs now. it can be confusing if you are learning both at the same time, but sm
other than that not a problem for me. best to get one down before starting to other or you might become overwhelmed.
MDI-MD: What are daily line requirements for full-time/part-time? Thanks! nm
nm
I have one full-time job and 2 part-time jobs. It can be tricky at times, sm
but at least I now have plenty of work always. I have some big financial goals, and right now that seems to be the only way to accomplish it.  I can't see any reason why it would not be legal -- why would you say that?  I am cheating no one, except myself (out of sleep and a social life).  Fortunately, I am single with no children or anything.  I cannot imagine doing this if I had a family.  At least my dogige understands. 
I've been there quite a while, pay on time, growth spurt right now, so good time to get on board,
new accounts and lots of work, and before someone says it, I'm not management, just an employee.
per his request I told him Time To Call, he called Not That Time, emailed me
nm
Full time/part time based on # hours or
# lines per pay period, nothing to do with quality. The lower the quality the higher the pay it seems.